Steiff "Felix The Cat" Surprises at Fairfield Auction

[Fairfield Auction]

Newtown, Conn. – Over 300 lots crossed the block at Fairfield Auction March 21st. Offerings included a good
selection of Americana, paintings, antique firearms, fine silver and other
accessories.

Paintings were lead by a Percival Rosseau portrait of a retriever with game that earned
$9,487. A charming interior scene by Gustav Igler also did well, selling at
$4,887 as did a panoramic landscape by British artist Henry Dawson, hammering
at $4,025. Other paintings
included a fine bucolic landscape by Oscar Adler, which sold at $2,587, a genre
by Bengt Nordenberg, which did well at $4,312, and a late addition by James
Crawford Thom depicting children sledding and throwing snowballs. It went reasonably at $2,587.

One of the biggest surprises of the day occurred at the beginning, lot ten. A Steiff figure of Felix The Cat
attracted several phone bidders and sailed above estimate to $4,887. Other items of special interest
included a Royal Flemish vase at $2,760, a rare Tiffany Studios enameled
cabinet bowl, which earned $2,185 and an original storyboard drawing of Dumbo
that sold at $1,380. A bidder in
the audience prevailed for a Hofner electric bass autographed by Paul McCartney
at $4,600.

A selection of Americana included a leaping stag weathervane at $4,025 and a
North Shore inlaid chest, with lunettes on the top edge, which sold for
$1,955. A McIntire carved card
table was a nice buy at $1,150 as was an early infantry officer’s saber at
$690. A large two-piece stained
glass window from the Nauguatuck home of John Howard Whittemore was bid to a
final price of $2,887.

Other items selling well included a first edition of Anne Of Green Gables, which sold
for $3,450 and a Steinway grand piano that went to the trade at $6,037. A sterling tea set by Mappin & Webb
found bidders, selling at $3,910. A
Shirvan runner topped a small group of estate carpets at $2,300 while a scarce
French picture clock sold $1,955.

Results quoted include a 15% buyer’s premium. The Fairfield Auction gallery is located at 53 Church Hill Road in Newtown, Connecticut.
Further information can be found at www.fairfieldauction.com.